Land Trust eNews August 2020

Maryland Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 08/28/2020 01:20 PM EDT

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Monthly News & Updates

August 2020 | Land Trust eNews

Conservation Spotlight

Great American Outdoors Act

The Trump Administration worked with Congress to secure the passage of this landmark conservation legislation, which will use revenues from energy development to provide up to $1.9 billion a year for five years to provide needed maintenance for critical facilities and infrastructure in our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, recreation areas, and American Indian schools. It will also use royalties from offshore oil and natural gas to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund to the tune of $900 million a year to invest in conservation and recreation opportunities across the country. Read more.

Land Trusts in the News

A Brighter Conservation Future for Great Mills

On the day Isaias hit St. Mary’s County, Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust (PTLT) closed on one of its most significant easements to date —77.51 culturally and naturally significant acres in Great Mills, St. Mary’s County. PTLT started working early in 2018 with the property’s owners, Bob, Allan and Mike Cecil, to acquire a conservation easement to the Clifton Factory property. Funding came from Program Open Space of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The property, now protected forever, is located immediately adjacent to the southern end of the St. Mary’s River State Park. Read more.

Another Win For Forests and Trees

The Baltimore City Council met on August 17 and advanced legislation to update the city’s forest conservation laws. These updates will strengthen protections for forest patches and the tree canopy. Baltimore Green Space has created a fact sheet with more information.

Save the Date

Passport to Preservation

August 1 - September 7

For this event, American Chestnut Land Trust is partnering with local breweries and wineries in Calvert Country. For more information visit the event page.

2020 Monthly Webinar Series

The Forever Maryland Foundation is hosting monthly webinars where the land trust community and its partners can connect, learn and share. For more information visit the event page.

Harford 20/20 Challenge

August 1- August 31

Harford Land Trust invites you to experience Harford County's outdoor adventures this August. For more information visit the event page.

Conservation In the News

How Have 55 Acres Been Saved Every Day Since 2010 in Pennsylvania?

Land trusts in Pennsylvania conserved an average 55 acres per day every day since 2010, according to a report by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association. A land trust is a charitable organization that acquires land or conservation easements; ensuring that the land is always available for farming, forestry or outdoor recreational use; or protecting other values provided by open land. Read more.

Building Bridges: Green Spaces Improve Cities. Can They Benefit Residents Who Need Them Most?

It was a gray Tuesday morning in February, a few weeks before the COVID outbreak was declared a global pandemic. The Anacostia River was quiet and serene, except for the sound of raindrops and the low roar of Jim Foster’s boat. Foster, president of the nonprofit Anacostia Watershed Society, was preparing to make his weekly rounds surveying the once-polluted river. Read more.

Chesapeake Bay Trust is Pleased to Announce that the Community Engagement Mini Grant Program is Now Open

The Mini Grants Program for Community Engagement is designed to engage Maryland residents in activities that enhance communities, engage residents, and improve natural resources. The program runs annually; CBT begin accepting applications at the start of June every year. For more information or to learn about the application process visit the grant page.

Online Learning Opportunities

Native Plant Video Series

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay announces a new series of short education videos - Native Plant Narratives. Most of the videos will focus on specific native species, where and when to use them, as well as how to care for them. Learn more.

Urban Forest Connections Webinars Series

The Forest Service's Urban Forest Connections webinar series brings experts together to discuss the latest science, practice, and policy on urban forestry and the environment. These webinars are open to all. Learn more.

Nonprofit Hub YouTube Channel

The Nonprofit Hub just launched a YouTube channel. On-demand webinars will be published on a weekly basis. The Hub is an online educational community dedicated to giving nonprofits everything they need to better their organizations and communities. Learn more.

The Webinar Portal

The Webinar Portal, a product of Southern Regional Extension Forestry, is a “multi discipline” web platform used to promote and deliver live and on-demand webinars focused on forestry, conservation, climate science and other natural resource disciplines. All webinars are provided free of cost to viewers. Learn more.

More News for You

Policies that Invest in Rural America Will Allow Natural Climate Solutions to Take Hold, Nicholas Institute Report Shows

A new report by Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions outlines a series of natural climate solution policy ideas aimed at investing in rural communities in a way that earns their political support. Read more.

The National Parks’ New Social Distancing Posters Are Hilarious (and Perfect)

In a world where everything is bad, these new National Park Service social distancing posters are very good. Read more.

Landmark Menhaden Vote Links Catch Limits to Rockfish Abundance

In an unprecedented move, East Coast fisheries managers will now make menhaden fishery decisions based on how their abundance impacts predators like crabs, rockfish and birds. Read more.

Farmer-Led Stewardship Initiative Showing Positive Early Results

Truterra, the sustainability business at Land O'Lakes, Inc., one of America's largest farmer-owned cooperatives, Campbell Soup Company, and The Mill, a Land O'Lakes agricultural retailer, announced the results from year two of an agricultural sustainability pilot project. Read more.

Supercomputers Simulate Environmental Changes in Chesapeake Bay

Encompassing more than 4,000 square miles, the Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the continental U.S., providing an excellent testbed for scientists aiming to better understand long-term changes occurring in coastal waters by using supercomputers to create detailed model simulations. Read more.

Honoring Smokey's 75 Years of Wildland Fire Education

Since 1944, Smokey Bear has been educating the public about wildfire prevention. In 2019, Smokey Bear celebrated his 75th birthday. Read more.

DCNR Bureau of Forestry Celebrates 125 Years of Conserving Penn's Woods

This year marks a milestone for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry -- as this summer, the bureau celebrates its 125th anniversary. Read more.

The 5th Annual Grist 50 Fixers

For the past half-decade, we've brought you the stories of emerging leaders cooking up the boldest, most innovative solutions to save this here planet. We like to call these forward-thinking phenoms Fixers. Read more.

Alliance Transcends Boundaries to Conserve Cougars

Tribes of Washington and researchers work together to strengthen the relationship between cougars and the land. Read more.

The Protective Value of Nature

The Protective Value of Nature summarizes the latest science on the effectiveness of natural infrastructure in lowering the risks to communities from weather- and climate-related hazards. Read more.

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Share Your News

If you would like to share relevant conservation news, success stories, announcements or events with Maryland's land trusts and conservation partners through this publication, please contact Michelle Grafton by the first of each month at michelle.grafton@maryland.gov.

MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST | dnr.maryland.gov/met